CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 70: THE DHARMA METHOD OF SHOUSUI

He really did succeed in managing the Yellow Dog Village affair, so in theory, the old shopkeeper should teach him the method, but would it really be that easy?

Upon hearing the old shopkeeper’s words, Hu Ma felt a vague suspicion, yet he remembered his principles: listen more, think more, and don’t ask too many questions.

As for the old shopkeeper, his face showed no clear joy or anger. He paused briefly before speaking lightly, "No need to overthink, this Manor lacks a manager and someone who can hold their own. I’m willing to teach you, and the faster you learn, the better."

"But learning this method means entering the Path. The danger within is likely beyond what you can imagine right now. Are you prepared?"

Hu Ma took a deep breath and replied seriously, "If I can learn this dharma method, I’m not afraid of anything."

"If the Shopkeeper is willing to teach me this dharma method, even if I don’t call you Master, I will remember this kindness."

The old shopkeeper, hearing this, chuckled. "There’s no need to be so cautious; whether it’s true or not, we will know in due time." He then looked at Hu Ma, saying, "The Shousui man’s dharma method isn’t difficult to teach you."

"But before I teach you, you must first understand: what is a Shousui man?"

"This..." Hu Ma showed a puzzled expression, acting as if he only knew the name "Shousui man."

The old shopkeeper chuckled lightly and said softly, "This is the dharma method of our profession, and your family’s elders likely wouldn’t know about it either. To ’Shou’ means to guard what is around, never abandoning it. ’Sui’ refers to the passage of time, the transition between old and new."

He began to speak slowly, "The Shousui man resides at the intersection of yin and yang, the border between life and death."

"Of course, some say our title as Shousui men comes from dealing often with Master Tai Sui; this isn’t entirely wrong either."

"Master Tai Sui descends to the world, bestowing boundless blessings upon people. If we could spend a lifetime by Master Tai Sui’s side, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to be considered fortunate..."

Hu Ma listened closely. His heart was already somewhat moved.

Shousui, Wandering spirits, life-nurturing Tongyin...

The Paths in this world are numerous, and only by entering these Paths is it possible to carve out a life.

Now, the Path of Shousui had quietly opened up to him...

"However, to enter this Path, there is still a crucial point required..." Shopkeeper Wu sat by the stone table. As he spoke, the light from the surrounding oil lamps seemed to dim slightly.

Softly, he said, "And this Path is..."

"...death!"

"Ah?" Hu Ma didn’t suppress his shock, suddenly looking up at Shopkeeper Wu.

Shopkeeper Wu seemed pleased with Hu Ma’s surprise and chuckled lightly. "You heard me right," he said. "To enter this Path, the first step is the word ’death.’"

"Currently, you and your fellow workers are selected from various families and clans, your yuan yang undiminished, vitality at its peak. Even without having cultivated any dharma methods, your body full of stove fire means no evil spirit or Wandering spirits would dare to come near you."

"However, solitary yang does not give life. You’ve reached this step; it’s the peak. Next, marriage and children, physical decline, and your vitality will naturally be on the decline."

"But in the Shousui man’s way, we choose this time to go against the current."

"From life to death, then from death to life, dwelling between life and death—neither living nor dying, alive yet dead."

"Heh, it’s said that twilight is the boundary, dividing yin and yang, humans and evil spirits each taking their own path. But we Shousui men are born at the boundary, capable of going anywhere."

From life to death, then Refine to Death and Rebirth? Hu Ma listened to these words, growing increasingly shocked. Now I understand why Granny wanted me to learn this.

He couldn’t help but ask, "Then...how do we do it?"

The old shopkeeper looked at Hu Ma with a half-smile and said, "I’ve told you about the method, but are you not afraid?"

Hu Ma immediately responded, "The old shopkeeper is teaching me skills; why should I be afraid?"

The old shopkeeper looked into his eyes, seeing only anticipation and no sign of fear or doubt. He sighed softly. When I first saw his abilities, and how he thoroughly outmatched Xu Ji despite Xu Ji’s favorable conditions, I occasionally wondered if he had a significant background and was just putting on an act, with some other agenda for coming to me. Now I see I was overthinking. He really is from the village. He’s intelligent and resourceful, but his mind is ultimately still simple, unversed in the ways of the world.

With his doubts cleared, he smiled at Hu Ma and said, "What I just told you is the method; as for how to do it, that’s the Path."

"To truly become a Shousui man, first, you must let a part of your body die."

"After death, use the Shousui man’s Method to transform death into life. Once you complete this step, you’ll have your own abilities."

"This is both the dharma method and your support."

"Since you’ve entered this Path, you’ll inevitably interact with Master Tai Sui and encounter those demons, evil spirits, and peculiar occurrences. Whether you can turn misfortune into fortune, perform exorcism, and avoid calamities will revolve around this ’death’ character."

"Of course, how much you can ’die,’ how much you can ’live,’ whether you can achieve Ascension and Entering the Mansion, Shangqiao and Returning—this all depends on your own karma."

"What I can tell you is that the ones with the highest cultivation in our Path are called the ’living dead.’"

"They are those who have entirely died once, yet refined life from death, transcending yin and yang."

As he spoke, he steadied the teapot beside him and subtly adjusted the stove fire. His palm became like a red-hot branding iron, and the teapot gradually turned scorching red, its contents boiling.

Then, he withdrew his hand and said to Hu Ma, "Pour me some tea."

Ascension and Entering the Mansion, Shangqiao and Returning... living dead?

Hu Ma pondered over the old shopkeeper’s words, his eyes fixed on the teapot. It looked as if it had been taken straight from the stove, vaguely glowing with a scorching redness.

Though he knew he would be burned, he still reached out for it.

The old shopkeeper laughed openly and brushed away his hand, saying, "Silly boy, are you really trying to hold it?"

Saying this, he extended his other hand and picked up the teapot.

Hu Ma watched carefully. Since the Shopkeeper could make the teapot red-hot with one hand, he naturally would be able to avoid getting burned. But he deliberately didn’t use the stove fire, simply extending his hand normally to grip the red-hot teapot.

Instantly, his skin couldn’t bear it. With a SIZZLE, it was directly burned, and a charred smell wafted out.

But the old shopkeeper remained unconcerned, slowly raising his palm.

Hu Ma noticed that the color of his hand was ashen gray, cold and stiff, devoid of any vitality.

Yet, somehow, as his energy circulated, the hand gradually became lively, and the burned part healed slowly.

"This is the skill between life and death, the Shousui man’s trump card."

The old shopkeeper smiled as he drew back his hand and leisurely poured tea, saying, "Practice this dharma method, and not only will fire and water not harm you, but even potent poisons and evil spirits can’t harm this hand. Fishing money out of a boiling oil pot will be a trivial matter for us; this is the skill."

"However, if you want to master this skill, you’ll first have to let a part of you die."

As he spoke, he pointed to the surrounding oil lamps and said softly, "Hands, feet, tendons, membranes, blood, bones, organs, eyes, brain—each part that undergoes Refine to Death and Rebirth will grant you different skills. Eventually, when you have let your mind and Divine Soul die once, this dharma method will reach its culmination."

"I have now lit these lamps for you, each representing a different part to serve as the catalyst for cultivating this dharma method."

"Depending on your karma, choose a lamp. Where you start the dying process is where you will begin to cultivate..."

Hu Ma turned to look. Each lamp was different, its flame flickering and emanating a mysterious aura.

Only now did he understand the purpose of lighting these oil lamps.

In his heart, besides feeling eerie and shocked, there also arose additional feelings of realization and joy.

The old shopkeeper is still waiting for me to choose a lamp, select a part to let die, and then practice this dharma method...

In fact, I can choose any of them.

Because my entire body has already died once, just waiting to be brought back to life.

His heart was full of joy, which he showed outwardly. He relaxedly stood, bowed to the old shopkeeper, and said, "I will listen to the Shopkeeper."

"Which lamp should I choose?"

Seeing Hu Ma ask in that manner, even the Shopkeeper seemed a bit surprised and looked at him.

The Shopkeeper’s mood seemed to improve. He pointed at Hu Ma, saying, "You say you’re clueless, but you still have a good head on your shoulders. So be it. It’s precisely your nature that gives you the opportunity to enter our Path. See that green lamp on your left? Take it and bring it back to your room!"

Hu Ma looked at the lamp. He had no idea what it represented, but he calmed his mind and picked it up.

The lamp was on his left, so naturally, he used his left hand to carry it.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he picked it up, he felt a slight numbness in his left hand and sensed a bizarre energy seeping in from his left fingertips.

Looking down, he saw a dark purple hue appearing on his left hand, snaking through his veins and spreading throughout his palm and even halfway up his forearm. It was indeed unexpected, but he held the lamp steadily, not dropping it.

"This lamp contains a secret medicine made from Black Tai Sui, which will destroy your left hand’s vitality."

Watching his calm demeanor, Shopkeeper Wu showed even more appreciation and said softly, "Right now, it’s merely poisoning. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, your left hand will completely die."

"But this is only the beginning. After it dies, you must mobilize the stove fire to revitalize it."

"I don’t expect rapid progress. But by spring next year, if you can reanimate one arm and one leg, you might be able to assist me."

"Yes, I will give my all." Hu Ma eagerly agreed, holding the oil lamp and attentively listening as the Shopkeeper imparted the dharma method.

The Shopkeeper sighed softly, then guided Hu Ma in controlling the stove fire and the method of Refine to Death and Rebirth.

As he listened attentively, this dharma method was not unfamiliar. In fact, it was essentially the same as the method he had learned from Second Master to accumulate his stove fire.

However, that method merely involved tending to a Yin Talisman and circulating vital energy. In contrast, the old shopkeeper’s instructions involved guarding the meridians and activating the vitality in his left hand, incorporating many more subtle complexities.

It was clearly a much more advanced dharma method.

He memorized it all without revealing anything, formally thanked the Shopkeeper, and then left the inner courtyard.

From life to death, Refine to Death and Rebirth...

I’ve finally found a way to solve the issue that has troubled me for so long...